Neuronal current MRI: the effect of neuronal oscillations

Jiaxin Du 1 , Viktor Vegh 1 , and David C Reutens 1

1
Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University
of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (nc-MRI)
aims to detect neuronal currents using MRI and may
provide higher resolution neuronal activity images than
existing functional MRI methods. However, nc-MRI is yet
to be convincingly demonstrated. This study investigates
the feasibility of nc-MRI using computer simulations. We
found that neuronal current induced MRI signal magnitude
changes are below currently detectable levels, but that
signal phase changes are likely to be detectable using
current MRI techniques. We also found that signal phase
does not accumulate over time but oscillates with
neuronal activity. Therefore, MRI scans need to be
synchronized with neuronal oscillation to maximize the
chance of detecting signal phase changes due to neuronal
currents.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only;
a login is required.